Chapter 5: The Final Reckoning

That same day, counselor announce grade meeting for public commendation and punishment. Memo go round, everywhere alert. For Naija, when school call meeting on top punishment, e dey serious.

People whisper, "Dem wan settle matter now." Small groups dey form, dey analyse. Some dey bet who go chop punishment. "E be like say person go chop expulsion."

Old women for my street dey always say, "If you do anyhow, you go see anyhow."

Everywhere full, some people wey no sabi the matter dey ask. Juniors, seniors, teachers fill the hall, some stand for window.

After gist spread, people avoid my side. My chair empty; nobody gree sit near me. Even old friend avoid eye. I just sit quietly, eyes down, face blank. I cross leg, play with pen, act like I no send anybody.

"Classmates, this grade meeting come quick, but e really important," counselor voice echo. Everybody quiet, ready for action.

"Everybody know say we just do donation drive, many students show good heart. Na because of una help, Ifedayo fit stand again."

Ifedayo sit near parents, dey try hide smile. Class clap. Counselor smile, carry Ifedayo come stage, pat shoulder. Ifedayo eyes red, bow many times. He almost fall, Halima rush help am. "Thank you, God bless all of una," he talk. "Thank you... thank you all..." Voice crack.

Some girls cry again. Even tough boys clear throat. Ifedayo parents dey there, hair white, dey wipe tears. Mama Ifedayo kneel, wrapper shift. Papa just dey wipe eye, "Thank you, my children."

Emotion just dey spread. You fit feel love for room. Even teachers dey adjust glasses, dey hide tears.

"Of course, for this donation, we gats praise one student specially."

Everybody guess. Some whisper Halima name. Counselor raise voice, "Make una listen well."

Before he finish, everybody look Halima side. She blush, use hand cover face. Classmates push her go front. Ayo push, "No hide face! Na you we dey celebrate."

She collect microphone, voice gentle but strong. Hand shake small, but as she talk, everywhere quiet like church.

"If you poor, try endure; if you fit help, abeg help others. Life dey hard, but as we dey help each other, God go bless us. Even though I no get much, I dey willing to do my part, and I happy to help. As I help Ifedayo, na myself I help too. But no be only me do am—na all of us. This honour na for everybody."

She point all of us, voice strong. Class clap, shout, "Halima! Halima!" She raise trophy school give her, smile bright. Trophy small but fine, she wave am, people snap picture. Principal and teachers clap first, then everybody join. Even strict principal dey smile. Everywhere cheer. Hall turn party, people sing, "We love Halima!"

Halima look my side, press lips, talk again. She catch my eye for small second, then turn back to mic.

"I know say I no suppose talk this one, but as class officer, I wan remind us say the power wey students give us, we suppose lead well, and make sure say we dey trustworthy. Abeg, make we no let small greed spoil big trust. Especially for those wey dey handle money, make greed no spoil everything. Na trust bring this one, no be only money. Dem say time dey show who person be. This matter really open my eye. Now I just hope say the person wey do bad go get the punishment wey fit am. I pray say next time, we go get better leader. After all, Ifedayo almost... because of her..."

She no call name, but everybody know who she dey talk about. My chest dey shake, but I no show am. The shame dey cut deep.

Noise of anger fill the place, counselor raise hand, "Abeg, make everywhere calm. Since we don talk the good side, next..."

He pause, look paper. People hold breath, some bring out phone to record. But before he finish, I stand up first. My leg dey shake small, but I stand. People dey turn, dey whisper, "She get mind!"

"Everybody, about the class fund wahala, I get the account book here." I raise the book, voice loud. My hand steady but my heart dey pound—let them see for themselves.

I open the book, ready to defend myself. For Nigeria, once person stand to talk for public, the whole room dey ready for drama.